From today’s Republican and Democrat county assemblies:
SHERIFF TED MINK: The funniest cop you’ll ever meet is running for re-election. He told fellow Jefferson County Republicans, “This time I think I’ll get it right.”
ATTORNEY GENERAL: The mention of the race fired up crowds at both Republican and Democratic assemblies. Republican Attorney General John Suthers has been panned and praised for joing a lawsuit seeking to overturn health-care reform.

“Hear, hear to our attorney general for standing up to Washington,” treasurer candidate J.J. Ament said, getting the loudest cheer of the day at the Arapahoe County Republican Assembly.

Likewise, Pat Waak, chairwoman of the Colorado Democratic Party, said wherever she went crowds went wild when she said Boulder County District Attorney Stan Garnett was going to beat Suthers.
GOVERNOR’S RACE: Republican Lisa Ruzzo of Jefferson County said she’s supporting Dan Maes over Scott McInnis, in part because she likes the idea of a contested primary.

“It makes them campaign and not disappear into the woodwork,” she said.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR: McInnis was asked who was going to be his “lite gov.” “You mean my heavy guv?” he said. “I’m going to have big plans, lots of work for that person. But I haven’t picked anyone yet.”

YOU GOT FIRST: But the popular opinion at the GOP gatherings was McInnis should wait and see who Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Hickenlooper selects.

TAKING IT EASIER: State Rep. Beth McCann, shook her head when asked if this Denver County Democratic Assembly was easier than the last. “Much,” she said.

McCann in 2008 faced two primary opponents for the open seat, which she won. She is unopposed this year.

Wil Armstrong has the same reaction at the Arapahoe GOP event. He was one four Republicans running for Congress, but lost the primary to Mike Coffman.

“I had a lot of fun though,” Armstrong said.
YOU’RE IN THE WRONG ASSEMBLY: Former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, who spoke on behalf of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, scolded Denver Democrats when they booed. He said Democrats don’t boo fellow Democrats, and if they wanted to boo Democrats they might as well go to East High School where the Denver County Republicans were meeting.

COME IN: Joshua Sharf, who is running for the state House, reports all went well at the Denver County GOP gathering, where unaffiliated voters, “thoughtful Democrats” and others were invited to get to know what was on their minds.

“So it looks as though it turned out well,” he said, on Facebook. “We got some well-behaved guests who were genuinely interested, and the benefit of having invited them to come.”

D’OH! Republican Wes Skiles of Aprapahoe County, manned state Rep. Spencer Swalm’s tables, which contained the Centennial lawmaker’s literature, a donation bowl and a plate of doughnuts.

“I want you to know that I got these at a local store, not some chain crap,” Skiles said, proudly displaying a box of carbo-loading but oh so tasty pastries from The Donut at Holly and Arapahoe.

SEMPER FI: U.S. Senate candidate Jane Norton thanked Republicans for their support after her father, Walter “Bus” Bergman of Grand Junction, died last month at the age of 89. When she said he was a Marine who fought in Okinawa, someone in the crowd yelled, “Hooah!”
HALF AND HALF: Secretary of State Bernie Buescher and State Treasurer Cary Kennedy, both Democrats, split their assemblies. She spoke on her and his behalf at four assemblies and he spoke on his and her behalf at four assemblies, including Denver County.
ACT LIKE AN EGYPTIAN: From GOP Senate candidate Ken Buck: “It’s time for Republicans to act like Republicans when they got to Washington, D.C., folks.”

STAYING TRUE BLUE: Lino Lipinsky read a message from his wife, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, to her fellow Denver Democrats.

“As you know, this has been a historic spring for the House. We defied Fox News, (Democrats booed) we defied Rush Limbaugh, (more boos) we defied the Tea Party, we defied Sarah Palin, (loudest boos of all) and we defied Glenn Beck.

“But I have news for those on the other side of the aisle – this state is blue and it’s staying blue.” (Lots of cheers)

PRECIOUS METALS: Among the resolutions Arapahoe County Republicans considered: “The U.S. government should reinstate a sound and stable monetary system, based on gold and silver.”

Sometimes I just love your articles Lynn. They make me laugh out loud in real life.I think Romanoff knows exactly what's going on; he's perceptive, and what he said is pretty revolutionary. Bennet is wise to circulate a petition.I like Bernie Buescher a lot, I hope I get a chance to meet him at the state Democratic Assembly – I'm going to attend as an observer.I met Joshua Sharf at the R Block Party North; he made a good impression.I'm a Democrat. I used to like Sarah Palin a lot… but she's acting like she has no common sense. We all know you love to kill things. Don't go on the Discovery Channel and BS us about wildlife.Ken Buck has a point, but the guy is so vague. He violated a lot of people's right to privacy as the Weld County DA, and he needs to own up to it. What do you mean Republicans need to act like Republicans? How are they acting now? What does a Republican act like?Jane – you're great, Jane.If the Democrats try to boo me for my Gadsden Flag, I'm quoting Wellington Webb. Then again, Wellington sounds like a Yellow Dog, and I'm a Blue Dog. (Yellow Dog Democrats vote a straight party-line ticket under any circumstances… check the Wikipedia for the origins of the term in the postbellum South.)The fight for the Governor's office will be (metaphorically) bloody, to say the least. Whichever candidate stakes his claim to the water gets the office. I'm thinking of the last scene in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.As for the color of this state – stop it you jerks, I'm red-blue colorblind. This state is whatever color Jane Norton's sticker is… which I guess is purple… but I originally thought it was blue… but it almost looks burgundy?Niland for Congress!

Froward

“I'm a Democrat. I used to like Sarah Palin a lot.”Democrat??? B.S. going for Norton??? Norton is redder that Stalin. and far more crazed than Palin,Glen Beck, and Lennin put together.John Hickenlooper – GovernorAndrew Romanoff- US SenateStan Garnett – AGyes this puts fear (and thus anger) in the hearts of republicans… so they MUST be the correct choices.

michaelniland

So the Democrats think Jane is redder than Stalin, but the Republicans think she's a Republican In Name Only.This is really confusing.Give the colorblind kid some help here.

Diana DeGette is insane. Colorado is a red state and it's going to get even redder in November. Maybe not in her left-wing district, but in the rest of Colorado (or reality, as it's sometimes called), we're sick and tired of liberal excess in Denver and Washington.

michaelniland

Today I sat down with Congressman Polis. Among my questions – “will you balance the budget?” I got a lot of laughs.The Congressman and his staff didn't understand that I wasn't joking.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.